Senior Renewable Energy Project Developer & Permitting Lead

Various positions | Mission Clean Energy | Remote or San Francisco, CA

Mission Clean Energy seeks a Senior Development Engineer to play an active role in helping our development team realize its goals by supporting and managing technical aspects of battery and solar projects in development. This pivotal position manages the technical aspects of early solar and storage site evaluation through construction readiness and encompasses preliminary solar and energy storage design, managing engineering studies, supporting technical aspects of site permitting, and coordinating with equipment and EPC service providers.

The Senior Development Engineer will report to the VP of Pre-Construction. This represents a unique opportunity to become part of a well‑funded, exceptional team in a key role that will influence the company’s growth trajectory.

• Prepare and manage conceptual facility, collection system, interconnect, and site access design for land campaign siting and early‑stage development projects.
• Identify and mitigate key technical risks across buildability and permitting.
• Identify and provide mitigation plans for project constraints.
• Coordinate design optimization and identify cost and other improvement opportunities.
• Manage engineering deliverables such as single lines, detailed site plans, preliminary grading and/or drainage plans as necessary for permitting and preliminary EPC bids.
• Manage third‑party engineering studies including geotechnical, hydrology, and topography as well as construction‑related permitting studies such as water use.
• Provide engineering and construction input for land use permit applications. Attend AHJ meetings as necessary.
• Serve as technical interface and technical lead with our cross‑functional group of finance, engineering, GIS, real estate, permitting, transmission/interconnection, and revenue contract origination personnel.
• Support developers and conduct development site visits to assess site constructability.
• Stay apprised of technology advancements, trends, and supply chain risks across the solar and storage industry OEMs.
• Coordinate and review bids from equipment suppliers and EPC service providers to support project cost modeling.
• Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will have a broad skill set to work across a wide variety of specialties including business, finance, communications, biology, policy, and real estate as they assist with environmental diligence, discretionary permit acquisition, and environmental compliance for greenfield renewable energy projects (including solar PV and energy storage). The ideal candidate is adept in public speaking, navigating meaningful and complex permitting conversations and Q&As, and has proven success as boots on the ground support in public hearings and other engagements.

This position will report directly to the Head of Development.

The Senior Permitting Manager will oversee permitting work streams, working closely with Developers, Development Managers, as well as the GIS, Engineering and Real Estate teams. This is a growth position within the company. This position is a rare opportunity to join a well‑capitalized, outstanding team in a critical role that will shape the growth and future of the company. This is an ideal job for a deeply skilled person who wants to lead in an entrepreneurial environment while maximizing their impact on the clean energy transition.

• Prepare, submit, and coordinate agency approval of applications for discretionary permits and other entitlements critical to project viability and success.
• Schedule and lead public meetings with external stakeholders including public hearings, town halls, pre‑application meetings, and board discussions.
• Obtain local support using a variety of methods including informational flyers, individual meetings, and community events.
• Manage a network of external consultants in the scoping of biological, cultural, and other resource surveys and the preparation of diligence documents (including legal counsel for permit opinions and guidance) necessary for environmental permitting and…